Poetry brings human rights, refugee issues to schools
Whether it’s an emotional journey about the love-hate relationship with one’s war-torn homeland, the metaphor of a forest in a storm or one’s flight for survival, the entries to a poetry contest showcase young Canadians’ empathy and knowledge of the global refugee crisis.
The seventh annual Refugees and Human Rights Child and Youth Poetry Contest received 162 poems from Toronto area students in Grades 4 to 12, in commemoration of World Refugee Day.
The contest — started in 2007 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee’s (UNHCR) Toronto office and COSTI Immigrant Services — aims to bring human rights education and awareness of the refugee situation to Canadian classrooms.
“By asking youth to write poetry about refugees and human rights, we hope to encourage Canada’s future to think as humanitarian and compassionate leaders towards their brothers and sisters living worldwide,” said Rana Khan of the UNHCR.
COSTI’s Mario Calla said the submissions showed the young poets’ empathy and appreciation toward refugee issues. “Their understanding and compassion is often expressed in moving and, sometimes very creative, ways.”
Sherina Was Sick, So She Wrote Poems
Megan Scarlett, Grade 8, Toronto’s St. Clement’s School, 1st place in the Grades 7 and 8 group Sherina was sick, so she wrote poems. Mama said to write. After all, my words won’t die Even though I will. Something in my chest Doesn’t work. I cough. And wheeze. Mama cries. I can’t see a doctor. We do not have the money. Nor can we travel. Doctor Nawabi Lives too far away from us. We can’t walk that far. Land mines line our streets Like the flowers Mama braids Into my long hair. So I stay home, Drawing strength from laughing doves Singing songs for me.
“‘After all, my words won’t die, even though I will’ poignantly captures the transcendental power of poetry and its ability to shift our thinking and perhaps our action. The poem is about a poor, ill child who has no access to health care . . . and has a surprise ending with the mother’s voice finishing the poem, announcing the death of her child.” JUDGE RANA KHAN
Goodbye Syria, My Love
Diatra Farasha, Grade 10, Toronto’s Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School, 1st place in the Grades 9 to 12 category I loath you tremendously For you have scarred me unbearably An unforgotten wound carved by bloodstained hands But my would will become a scar My hatred will morph into remission I’ll loath you no more You’re not worthy my energy or time It might take years, even decades But I’ll eventually forgive you, though never forget you When a long time ago, I was also a part of you Goodbye Syria, my love
“The judges were impressed with the complexity of feelings so eloquently expressed. Diatra says of her war-torn country, ‘I loath you tremendously/For you have scarred me unbearably.’ She goes on to say how the hatred will morph into remission and forgiveness. The poem provides insights into the emotional turmoil suffered by refugees.” JUDGE MARIO CALLA
The Innocent Forest
Emmanuelle Brindamour, Grade 6, Toronto’s Branksome Hall, 1st place in the Grades 4 to 6 category Same hearts, same souls, We sprout, and grow old, Our leaves illustrate new stories and wisdom, But for this forest, our stories remain untold, We followed the course, life as we knew it, Sun, night, air, earth, everything has a spirit, Growing, thriving, losing, dying Until a storm shattered our roots, a fire was lit ... We suffered too many storms, and no signs had come to warn, We pulled our deep roots from the earth below, With the savage winds we wished to flow, Sent our leaves and seeds for new beginnings ... The wind from the past breezes by, this is our time.
“Emmanuelle used the concept of a forest as a metaphor for the refugee experience. She talks of a ‘growing, thriving forest’ until ‘a storm shattered our roots.’ She maintains the metaphor by alluding to the refugees’ flight by saying, we ‘sent our leaves and seeds for new beginnings.’ Her poem presents a creative way of understanding the refugee experience.” JUDGE MARIO CALLA